Phishing scams are a constant threat - using various social engineering ploys, cyber criminals will attempt to trick you into divulging personal information such as your login ID and password, banking or credit card information.

Phishing scams can be carried out by phone, text, or through social networking sites - but most commonly by email.

Be suspicious of any official-looking email message or phone call that asks for personal or financial information.

Tip #4 - Practice good password management

We all have too many passwords to manage - and it's easy to take short-cuts, like reuseing the same password. A password management program can help you to maintain strong unique passwords for all of your accounts. These programs can generate strong passwords for you, enter credentials automatically, and remind you to update your passwords periodically.

There are several online password management services that offer free versions, and KeePass is a free application for Mac and Windows.

Here are some general password tips to keep in mind:

Use long passwords - 20 characters or more is recommended.

Use a strong mix of characters, and never use the same password for multiple sites.

Don't share your passwords and don't write them down (especially not on a post-it note attached to your monitor).

Update your passwords periodically, at least once every 6 months (90 days is better).